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Carrollwood neighbors worried about car break-ins, thefts

Posted at 5:52 PM, May 21, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-21 17:52:45-04

Thomas Poston was on his way to work when when he realized something missing from his driveway.

"Something didn't look right," he said. "I'm missing something. I thought it was my phone or keys. Then I said 'where's my wife's car?'"

According to a report filed with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, someone broke into Poston's Nissan Pathfinder Sunday night. Poston, his wife, and their baby were a sleep at the time.

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"You don't expect to have to worry about waking up, going to work, and your car is taken out of your driveway," said Poston.

Lakeland officers found his Pathfinder while they were out looking for a different stolen car.

"I'm glad to get it back in one piece," he said. "The officers said it was luck."

Officers found a backpack and the suspect's wallet in the SUV.

According to neighbors, car break-ins are common in Carrollwood, but not car thefts. According to the Hillsborough Co. Sheriff's Office car break-ins are up in certain parts of the county.

Thomas and his neighbors would like to see more patrols in the area.

"We used to have patrols with out HOA, but they decided to stop doing that to put the money elsewhere. Now this is happening," he said.